Why not Pyrodex in a flintlock?

[user 49399]

Being one of them fellers that has to prove fer hisself what works and what don’t, I decided to try some Pyrodex P in a flintlock pistol pan. The flint in the pistol shown will ignite Goex or Scheutzen 2f every time without fail. How some ever, with Pyrodex P , I got ignition 1 out of 6 tries. Ain’t acceptable fer me. So fer them a wantin’ to know, there you are.

 

[jdw276]

Ignition temp for bp is about 350 degrees. Pyro and other subs 850 or so degrees. The sparks from the frizzen cannot reliablte generate enough heat to get to 750-800 degrees every time. Thus a flash or nothing.

 

[user 34300]

Even if you use BP in the pan you get a hang fire with pyrodex in the barrel. You have to use a duplex bp and pyro load to get normal function.

 

[FPDoc]

What is the ignition temp of lighter fluid.. oops... did I type that out loud?

Probably shouldn't try that

 

[Sidney Smith]

Here we go again

 

[user 49399]

Here we go again

Nope. Just trying to put it to rest with actual, real life testing. Maybe give some good info and help those who might be a pondering on it.

 

[dave951]

Pyrodex- Just say NO

 

[Alan O]

I use Pyrodex 4f in the pan and 2f for the main charge in all my pistols. If it doesn't ignite it's either the frizzen needs hardening or the flint (which better be in good shape)

 

[Alan O]

that said, I look forward to using "real" BP at some point.

 

[Boston Bill]

The consensus in all the threads is Pyro is ok in pistols. Which is what I have found. Not so great in flintlocks!

 

[Grimord]

I use Pyrodex 4f in the pan and 2f for the main charge in all my pistols. If it doesn't ignite it's either the frizzen needs hardening or the flint (which better be in good shape)

Never saw Pyrodex 4F or 2F, just "P" and "RS & Select".

 

[Grenadier1758]

Even if you grind Pyrodex down to 4f size, it will still take that 750 to 800 degree F temperature to ignite. I'm going to have to show my Missouri roots here. Show Me.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I use Pyrodex 4f in the pan and 2f for the main charge in all my pistols. If it doesn't ignite it's either the frizzen needs hardening or the flint (which better be in good shape)

I think this was meant as sarcasm?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Doesn't work. Any other questions?

 

[BigBoreBLR]

Blackpowder can be tough to get for some. Definitely use real stuff in the pan. If you have one of those patent chambers like thomspon and lyman guns do, put about 5-10gr real stuff in first, then pyrodex afterwards. Numerous modern pellet powder manufacturers have a grey pellet with a black on one side. Thats real blackpowder.....

Traidtional guns with regular full bore sized chambers at the flash hole, you might need more powder. Or possibly, mix 1/2 blackpowder and 1/2 pyrodex for the 1st 20 gains or so.

if you have a patent chamber, make sure you clean it good. I use a 357 brass brush to clean my lyman great plains rifle. You might be wise to open up that flash hole too I used a 1/16th drill bit on mine. No problems, except finding room in my freezer for after the trigger pull....

 

[Stone]

I would be curious to see what the results would be of a truly independent test. I will eventually conduct my own but that won't be for a while.

For example, I have seen that pyrodex ignites at a much higher temp, but at what temp, and how fast, does 4F burn? If 4F burns at a higher temp than it takes to ignite pyrodex, and it achieves that temp quickly, then it wouldn't matter.

A real test would require high speed video and an unbiased tester.

 

[FPDoc]

What is the ignition temp of lighter fluid.. oops... did I type that out loud?

Probably shouldn't try that

That was a joke... in case anyone was wondering

 

[Stone]

Doesn't work. Any other questions?

It works.

I "might" work differently.

 

[Stone]

Interesting video.

Black powder vs pyrodex.

 

[Brokennock]

Doesn't work. Any other questions?

Yes.
If a farbalicious reinventor falls on his bakelite horn of pyrodex and his short starter goes up his,,,,,,,,, nose,,,, how does he pull a stuck ball?